Spray nozzle



March 6, 1945. s. D. LAPHAM SPRAY NOZZLE Filed April 19, 1944 rameenmamsfi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sraav NozzLn v Sidney n. Lapham, Martinez, calla, alsignor to Shell Development Company, San Francisco,

Calli., a corporation of Delaware Application April 19, 1944, Serial No. 532.005

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to spray nozzles and more particularly to spray nozzles adapted for treating the interior of containers and the like.

There are numerous industrial and other applications for spray nozzles which may be inserted in the openings of containers and serve to coat the interior surfaces of or otherwise treat the interiors of the containers. Specific examples of such applications coming under consideration are the cleaning and coating of drums, barrels, cans, bottles etc. In cleaning and/or coating such containers, the greatest difllculty lies in providing complete and uniform wetting of the interior surfaces with the material which is being'sprayed. During cleaning operations, a spray nozzle is normally employed which provides an impingement let. the stream of cleaning fluid serving as a mechanical force, in addition to the solvent action, to assist in removing undesirable deposits from the interior of the container. When removing heavy deposits such as asphalt, gums, resins and the like, it is particularly important that complete coverage of the interior of the container by the impinging stream is attained, otherwise the cleaning process is either ineifective or unduly time consuming. In coating the interiors of containers, an atomizing nozzle is generally employed which developsa relatively fine spray. In such instances it is also imperative that the atomizing nozzle provide complete and uniform coverage of the interior of the container to avoid uneven coatings which tend to flow or wrinkle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved spray and atomizing nozzle adapted to treat the interior surfaces of containers. A further object is to provide a nozzle of this type which will eflectively and completely cover the interior surfaces of containers in a minimum period of time. Another object is to provide a spray nozzle which will provide complete impingement coverage of the interior of a' container or the like. Still another object is to provide an atomizing nozzle which will evenly coat the interior surfaces of a container. Other objects, together with some of the advantages to be derived in utilizing the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawing illustrating a sectional elevation of a nozzle arrangement accordlngto the invention. 1

In the drawing, a housing III in cylindrical form is fixed to or formed as a part of base admit air to annular chamber 22. Conduit 2 extends through the upper end of housing 1'0 and terminates within nozzle drive housing I. Sleeve 8 is rigidly attached to nomle drive housing 1 and extends downwardly therefrom enclosing a section of conduit 2 and defining an annular chamber therebetween which is in direct flow communication with annular air chamber -22. Sleeve 4 encloses a section of housing In and is connected to sleeve 2 through bearinghousing 9 which is rigidly attached to sleeve I. The lower portion of sleeve 4 is adapted to receive annular packingt and threaded bushing 2 which serves to secure packing 5, .The upper end of sleeve 4 is threaded to engage bearing housing 9 which is supported by hearing II which is mounted in housing l0 near the upper end thereof.

Lubrication fitting 36 permits introduction of lubricant between sleeve 4 and housing Ill, sleeve 4 being rotatable with respect to housing It, and also to lubricate bearing ll. Ring gear i8 is rigidly mounted on sleeve 4, being driven by any suitable gear means enga ing gear teeth 6.

' Conduit 2 terminates inside nozzle drive housing 1, bevel gear I5 being rigidly mounted on the discharge end of conduit 2. An annular packing I2 is provided between conduit 2 and nozzle drive housing "I, bushing I3 securing packing l2 in place. A second bevel gear 20 is rotatably mounted in nozzle drive housing 1, preferably at a right angle to bevel gear l5, and meshes therewith. Nozzle housing IQ is rigidly attached to the external projection of bevel gear 20 and rotates with bevel gear 20. 4

An L-conduit l'l extends downwardly through bevel gear l5 and terminates within conduit 2, being rotatable with respect to both of these elements, and also extends through bevel gear 20,

' .terminating in flow communicationwith conduit 29 in nozzle housing l9. Bevelgear 20 is free to rotate with respect to that portion of L-conduit ll-passing therethrough.

Conduit 22 is provided in nozzle drive housing I in flow communication with annular air chamber 22 at one end and with an annular air manifold 24, also provided in nozzle drive housing 1, at the other'end. Annular Dackings 3| and 32 are provided on each side of air manifold 24 and are retained by now-1e housing 19 which is rotatable with. respect thereto.

Nozzle housing 19 is threaded to receive spray nozzle 21, preferably perpendicular to the axis of rotation of nozzle housing I9, and atomizing tip 35. Spray nozzle 21 is provided with perforations at M in flow communication with conduit 29. Atomizing tip 35 is in flow communication with air manifold 24 through conduit 25 in nozzle housing l9. Clean-out plugs are provided in the base .of spray nozzle 21 at 33' and in nozzle housing l9 at 34.

A. ball-check lubrication'fltting is providedin the top of nozzle drive housing I at I6. Lubricant introduced at It serves to lubricate bevel gears l5 and as well as the bearing surfaces between bevel gear 20 and nozzle drive housing I, between L-conduit I! and bevel gear 20, and

between L-conduit I1 and conduit 2.

The operation of the nozzle, when used for atomizing purposes, is as follows: the liquid which is to be atomized is supplied under pressure .to conduit 2, passing upwardly through conduit II, through conduit 29 and thence into spray nozzle 21 through perforation l4. Air or other suitable atomizing gas is supplied under pressure through air inlet port 40 from whence it passes through annular air chamber 22 into conduit 23 and air manifold 24. Conduit 25 receives air from air manifold 24 and delivers the same through annular space 26 between atomizing tip and spray nozzle 21.

Ring gear I8 is rotated by any suitable means, resulting in'rotation, of sleeve 4, bearing housing 9, sleeve 8 and nozzle drive housing I. Since conduit 2 retains bevel gear I5 in a stationary position, it will be seen that the rotation of nozzle drive housing 1 carrying bevel gear 20 results in rotation of bevel gear 20 as well as rotation of L-conduit I'I within conduit 2.

Rotation of bevel gear 20 results in corresponding rotation of nozzle housing l9 carrying spray nozzle 21 and atomizing tip 35. Bevel gears l5 and 20 are provided with unequal numbers of teeth, one of these gears preferably having one tooth less than the other. Thus, for example, if gear [5 is provided with 24 teeth and gear 20 with l 23 teeth, one complete rotation of nozzle drive housing 1 will bring about 1 and lap rotations of gear 20 and spray nozzle '21 attached thereto. In order to retumnozzle drive housing 1 and spray nozzle 21 to the same relative starting po- 5 sitions, it isnecessary to rotate nozzle drive housing 1 a total of 23 times, resulting in 24 rotations of spray nozzle 21. In practical operation, when the nozzle head is inserted in a drum or the like,

it will be seen that the stream from the spray 5 has 23,19, 1'7, 13 or any other practical number which is prime with respect to 24 and is less than 24.

The number of different pathswhich will be traced'by the nozzle with a given pair of gears may be generally expressed by the formula i L.C.M. (N) and (n) wherein R. is, the number of different paths, N

v is the number of teeth on the larger gear and n is the number of teeth on the smaller gear. When the least common multiple of N and n is N xn, as occurs when N and n are prime with respect to'each other, the greatest number of diverse path units for a given pair of gears wherein the larger gear has N teeth, are attained. Thus, it will be seen'that the number of diiferent paths traced by the spray nozzle is primarily a function of the number, of teeth on the larger gear, and this factor must be taken into consideration in constructing a nozzle for a given application. For general use, as for example in cleaning Or coating drums, barrels, bottles, cans and the like havingup to. approximately square feet of interior surfaces, the unit described above, 1. e. a gear system wherein the larger gear is provided with 24 teeth and the smaller gear 23 teeth, has been found satisfactory. However, for certain applications, as for example in cleaning the interiors of drums or other large containers in which asphalt, resins or other analogous materials have been stored, it is advantageous to utilize a spray nozzle driven by a gear system in which the larger gear has a greater number of teeth, for example 48 teeth, and the smaller gear is provided with 47 teeth or another number which is prime with respect to 48. In this manner, 48 different paths will be traced by the impinging stream on the interior surfaces of the container.

- Inoperation, the nozzle is inserted through the opening in the container-and the container supported in such a manner that'the nozzle is approximately in the center thereof, 1. e. the nozzle head is as nearlyas possible equidistant from all of the interior surfaces of the container. During cleaning operations, air inlet port 40 is plugged and a stream of cleaning fluid under pressure admitted through liquid inlet port 2|. In many instancesit has been found desirable to successively pass a number of cleaning agents through the nozzle during the cleaning operation. For example, in removing asphalt from containers, a particularly suitable cycle involves first passing heated hydrocarbon solvent through the nozzle during one or more complete cycles of revolutions of nozzle drive housing I. This treatment is followed by a short period during which 9 the liquidflow is interrupted and the container allowed'to drain, or if desired, an air stream may be admitted through inlet'port 2| .to facilitate removal of the solvent. A heated caustic solution is then admitted through inlet port 2| during 5 one or more cycles of rotations of nozzle drive housing I, followed by a second draining period and then by awater flushing,- Warm air may be introduced through the nozzle after the water rinse to facilitate drying of the interior surfaces of the container.

When usedin coating-applications, as for examplev in applying paint, lacquer, varnish, corrosion inhibition coatings and the like, air is admitted under pressure through air inlet port 40 and the liquid coating. composition, also under delivered from the nozzle rather than an impin ingstream.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spray nozzle assembly of the class described, the combination comprising a rotatable nozzle drive housing including a primary gear positioned therein, a secondary gear carried by and rotatable with respect to said nozzle drive housing engagin said primary gear, the longitudinal axis of said secondary gear being perpen-.

dicular to the longitudinal axes of said primary gear and said nozzle drive'housing, a nozzle hous ing disposed externally to said nozzle drive hous ing mounted on said secondary gear and rotatable therewith, an atomizing nozzle mounted in said nozzle housing perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said nozzle housing, means for rotating said nozzle drive housing, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said atomizing nozzle and means for supplying air under pressure to said atomizing nozzle.

2. In a spray nozzle assembly of the class described, the combination comprising a rotatable nozzle drive housing including a primary gear positioned therein, a secondary gear carried by and rotatable with respect to said nozzle drive housing engaging said primary gear, the longitudinal axis of said secondary gear being perpennozzle, air conduit means in said nozzle drive housing, an annular air manifold disposed between said nozzle drive housing and said nozzle housing in flow communication with said air conduit means, air conduit means in said nozzle housing in flow communication between said air manifold and said atomizing nozzle, means for supplying air under pressure to said air conduit means in said nozzle drive housing and means for rotating said nozzle drive housing.

3. In a nozzle assembly of the class described, the combination comprising a rotatable nozzle drive housing, including a primary gear supported therein and non-rotatable with respect to said nozzle drive housing, primary conduit means extending through said primary gear, a. secondary gear carried by and rotatable with respect to said nozzle drive housing engaging said primary gear, secondary conduit means extending through said secondary-gear, the longitudinal axis of said secondary gear being perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said primary gear and said nozzle drive housing, a nozzle housing disposed externally to said nozzle drive housing mounted on said secondary gear and rotatable therewith, an atomizing nozzle mounted in said nozzle housing perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said nozzle housing, flow communication means between said atomizing nozzle and said secondary conduit means, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said secondary conduit means through said primary conduit means, air conduit means in said nozzle drive housing, an annular air manifold in said nozzle drive housing between said nozzle housing and said nozzle drive housing in flow communication with said air conduit means, air conduit means in said nozzle housing in flow communication between said air manifold and said atomizing nozzle, means for supplying air under pressure to said air conduit means in said nozzle drive housing and means for rotating said nozzle drive housing.

4. In a nozzle assembly of the class described, the combination comprising a rotatable nozzle drive housing, a stationary nozzle assembly base including a conduit housing, conduit means extending through said conduit housing and into said nozzle drive housing, a primary gear in'said nozzle drive housing supported by said conduit means in non-rotatable relationship with said conduit drive housing, primary conduit means in said primary gear in flow communication with said supporting conduit means, fluid sealing means between said supporting conduit means and said nozzle drive housing, a secondary gear carried by and rotatable with respect to said nozzle drive housing engaging said primary gear, secondary conduit means extending through said secondary gear, the longitudinal axis of said secondary gear bein perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said primary gear and said nozzle drive housing, a nozzle housing disposed externally to said nozzle drive housing mounted on said secondary gear and rotatable therewith, an atomizing nozzl mounted in said nozzle housing perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said nozzle housing, flow communication means between said atomizing nozzle and said secondary conduit means, flow communication means between said primary conduit means and said secondary conduit means, rotatable support housing means mounted on said conduit housing and supporting said nozzle drive housing, bearing means disposed between said conduit housing and said rotatable support housing and supporting said rotatable support housing on said conduit housing, means for rotating said support housing, air conduit means in saidnozzle drive housing, an annular air manifold in said nozzle drive housing between said nozzle housing and said nozzle drive housing in flow communication with said air conduit means, air conduit means in said nozzle housing in flow communication between said air manifold and said atomizing nozzle, means for supplying air under pressure through said conduit housing and said rotatable support housing to said conduit means in said nozzle drive housing and air sealing means between said rotatable support housing and said conduit housing.

SIDNEY D. LAPHAM. 

